Staple extractor



1950' A H. MAYEARD 2,518,485

' STAPLE EXTRACTOR Filed June 4, 1947 fiz den Z 01":

- fiZhurHMqI Rard Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATES STAPLE EXTRACTORArthur H. Maynard, Warwick, R. L, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Bostitch, Inc., a corporation of Rhode IslandApplication June 4, 1947, Serial No. 752,539

2 Claims.

This invention relates to staple-extractors for removing staples andlike fasteners from papers or other articles held together thereby.

One object of the invention is to provide a small, compact device of thetype indicated which may be used as a desk implement or carried in thepocket.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated having apointed blade for insertion under the head or crossbar of the staple andmeans combined therewith and movable relatively thereto to withdraw thestaple without crinkling or buckling the'paper.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which ismore convenient to operate for extracting staples by causing theirclinched legs to be straightened and withdrawn through the paper withouttearing or otherwise mutilating it.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which can bemore readily inserted under the head of the staple and convenientlyoperated in one hand to quickly extract the staple.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of thedevice, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the present improvedstaple-extractor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device illustrating its method ofoperation and the relationship of its parts as the staple is withdrawnfrom the work;

Fig. 4 is a similar side elevation of the device illustrating the mannerof inserting its cooperating blades under the head of the staple;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged forward end view of the device showing theparts in position as the staple is first partly withdrawn from the work;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts of the device in position asthe staple is completely withdrawn; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view online I--l' of Fig. 2showing the concave-convex form of the main blade of the device andillustrating the manner in which the movable blade nests therein when inclosed relationship.

Referring to the drawing, the present improved staple-extractorcomprises a main member 2 constructed from a strip of flat sheet-metalwith a rearwardly-projecting, inclined handle 3 of considerable lengthand a tapered blade 4 projecting forwardly in horizontal relationship atits end. The blade 4 is of novel form being generally pointed in planview at its forward end with its point of extreme thinness in thevertical direc tion.

Mounted above the main element 2 and connected therewith to adapt it torock relatively thereof is a finger-lever I having a forward blade 8 ofsubstantially the same marginal contour as the main blade 4 withshoulders II and a convex under side to adapt it to seat within the con-15 cavity in the main blade. The finger-lever 1 has a relatively flathorizontal portion 9 at the rearof the blade 8 and offset upwardlythereabove which is continued rearwardly in an angular arm terminatingin an arcuate portion ill for receiving the pressure of the operatorsfinger.

the main member 2 by means of a relatively fiat 1eaf-spring 12 havingits rearward end fastened to the handle 3 by hollow rivets 13, while itsforward end is attached to the under side of the flat portion 9 of thelever by rivets I4. The oilsetting of the fiat portion 9 of the lever 1above.-

the bottom of the blade 8 provides a clearance space for the end of thespring l2 and the heads of the rivets, as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawing, so that the blade 8 may seat in the hollow of the lower blade 4with the upper surfaces of both blades flush at the pointed ends. Itwill be observed by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that normally :5; thespring l2 maintains the rearward finger-portion of the lever 1 rockedupwardly and its iorwardly-projecting blade 8 nested in the concavity ofthe lower blade 4, while permitting the lever 1 to be rocked to raiseits blade 8 above the lower blade 4.

The present staple-extractor is adapted for convenient operation towithdraw staples from.

the work by being manipulated in the manner as next explained. Theimplement is grasped 45 in one hand with the fingers enclosing thehandle-portion 3 of the member 2 and the thumb resting on the uppercurved end ID of the fingerlever 1. Referring to Fig. 4, with theimplement held in the hand in the manner explained it is r first tiltedupwardly to incline the blades 4 and 8 at a sharp angle to the work,indicated at W, to,

adapt the pointed ends of the two blades to be inserted under the heador crossbar of the staple s. The blades 4 and B are then pushedforwardly under the head 01' the staple s and the imple-.

The finger-lever I is rockably mounted above ment tilted downwardly tocause the blades to slowly withdraw the staple as they assume a positionwith the rearward portion of the blade 4 lying substantially flatagainst the top of the work, see Fig. 5. At this juncture the shoulders5 on the upper blade bring up against the legs of the staples as thelatter is wedged or pried upwardly with respect-to. the work. W. Somecare must be exercised not to press down on the finger-lever 1 untilboth blades 4 and 8 have been inserted under the head of the staple andforced therethrough with the legs of the staple:- in position abuttingthe shouldersfipon the lower blade and the corresponding shoulders l.,i.on.;the upper blade. In other words, to insure effective operation ofthe device both blades must be inserted under the head of the staplebeforethe lever T is actuated. When this has been. apecomplished thecurved end of the lever l is presseddownward to rockthe topblade 8 up,-ward intothe position shown inFigs. 3.1and 6', whereupon the. staplewill be rapidly. withdrawn from theworkas its. legs are straightened topassfthrough. the holes in the paper or, other material.. As the lever.l. isrocliedflto. raise. the blade? the staple will usually beforcedupward with a sharp snap-action to cause it to fly into theair-away from the blade 8. In this way st plescan be very rapidlyremoved and ejected from.- the.irnp lementso asnot 'b0 clog it forfurthenuse. Due to the fact that the legs of'the.

staplearebent outwardly from the clinchand straightened astheyrideacross the lateral edges. j

o f the lower blade ll-the paper or othermatje-rial; is ;not torn,orvotherwise damaged southatonly the- .original small holes remaintherein.

ItyWill be. observed from. the. foregoing de-,.

scription that the present-device is of extreme simplicitycomprising.onlytwo, main parts; the

handle-member 2 and the.lever.l ,,with. aspring for connecting them inco-operative.- relation sh p Consequently, no. pins or other. pivoting;

means are required; and the implementamay; be; manufactured veryeconomically by folf ning its; partsfrom stampings. each completed ina.v sin-v gle.;.operation. in a. die. The, sprin onnection betweenhthefinger-lever. i i andithe main ale-.- ment-a nsures; a ins loosen ssx ndmay ee. tween... the parts, thus maintaining them inproper: registry so;that .;the blade Zion.- the. lever:

1..Wi11 always seat closely nested in theicencavity;

its-lateral edges a very thinpoint' isnprov-ided at; its-forwardenditofacilitate its insentionunderthe-head of: a clinched: staplewith;the. upper...

nestedblade not materially increasing ,the-thicke ness;at..the point.Ithastbeen. demonstratedtthat;

the bladesmay bei'inserted under .the;.hea.d of: staple between its legsmuch: more easily. and;

with: less effort. than in. previously used: devices: in; which thetwo-blade portions overlap,..one. on: top of the; other. For-thisreason;the device is;

' illustrated as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is tobe understood that modificationsmaybemadein the shape and structure ofthe. parts without departing from the spirit or. scope of the:invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1; Animproved staple-extractor comprising a relatively flat strip-likemember forming a handle with its forward end inclined at an anglethereto. and tapered to provide a pointed blade having curved marginal:edges terminating in arcuate shoulders at theirear and 'sliaped -toconcavo-convex form in cross-section; a" fingerlever having a flat lowerportion extending at=-an angle thereto with a blade offset downwardlyfrom said flat portion and projectingforwardlytherefrom, said, bladeshaped substantially to'the form of the main blade. andof convex form-on its under side to adapt itt'o seat inthe-concavity" of the mainblade, andia leafespring riVetedto the. handle of the main member'atone-"end and extending forwardly therefrom in" abutting rela'-- tion tothe under side of"the:fl'at"portionofthe finger-lever with. its;forward." end" fastened thereto. J y

2. Astaple-extractor comprisin'gga main'merm ber having .a,handleeporti'on with a blade pro: jecting forwardly therefrom at'an.anglethere=- to, said. blade having a. pointed end 'tapered'to extremethinness on, its marginal edge, a finger-lever comprising a. main.portion having. an" angular-.flatportion projecting forwardly there'-from with .a. pointedi-blade offset: downwardly. and projectingf.orwardly.from..the flatiiportion" of said finger-lever, said lbladevonthe mainele ment having a'fiatlowerface and-a concavecl. recess. in itsupperifacathebladei on the finger-- lever conforming in outline .tothat'of the blade. on the main member and shapedfwith" a,convexbottomface-radapted to. seat. in the concavedrecess of the blade.on the main member with; its. fiat uppenface, fiushwith the upper face.there.- of, and a flat leaf-spring fastened at itsrear-a ward end..to..the main; member. and. to the. under side. of. the, fiat. portion. .of.the.. finger-lever, band. so constructed? and arranged as to.-.maintairi .tlie.- finger-lever. rocked; into. position to holdi..it's blade.firmly seated-in. the.bla.ole...ofv the...main.-v member. while...adapting it;...to.. baraised. theree above by. the .rocking m otion ofsaid .fingereleizer.

ARTHUR MAYNARD.

REFERENCES CITED The -;-f0llowing references are of record in a theefile of this; patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,988" 7 Gb'essel May- 28;..194 6

